Pole pruner and like tools



rIflIlIf nh June 11, 1940. H. w. PORTER ET AL POLE PRUNER AND LIKE TOOLS Filed April 9, 1957 Fwmwoals 1711M;

Patented June 11, 1940 l v v UNITED STATES Henry W. Porter, Brookline, and FrancisT. Lind, Everett, Mass, assignors to H. ,K. Porter, Inc., Everett, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 9, 1937, Serial No. 135,960

4 Claims) (01. 30-5249 This inventionrelatesto cutting tools? and in its the tool shown in Fig. 1 lie ina circular arc and more particular aspect to a pruning instrument of extend from the extremities of the are as relathe type which is mounted upon a long staff or tively fiat, concave and convex curves of a spiral pole for operation. by means ofa pull cord or the nature, defining between them a substantially like to trim distant parts of trees. Although cerconstant angle of intersection throughout clos- *5 ta-in features of the invention may be utilized in ingjmovement. f 1 tools of somewhat differing construction for ap- The lever arm 89 may be operated inany'suitplication to specifically different uses, it will be able manner. We have herein shownthe runner convenient in the following description to refer pulley 2i, whichmay besuspendedfroin any one to the subject matter under consideration as a of the openings 23, 25 and 2'! in the arm l9 acpole pruner. In accordance with our invention cording to the mechanical leverage desired and we provide a. construction for a cuttingtool of receives a cord having a standing part 29 which this type having particular advantages in manumay be suitably secured to the pole H and an facture and in use, as will appearmore fully to operating part or fall 3|. The lever may thus those skilled in the art from thefollowing debe drawn downwardly to the position of Fig. 2 and scription of an illustrative embodiment thereof is returned to the normal position ofFig. l by shownby way of example in the accompanying means of asuitabIetensiOn spring 33. I-Ierein the drawing, whereinlever l is provided at the back of the J whereit Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a pole curves into the stem portion 9 with a projecting 2'0 pruner illustrativeoi the invention; log 34 forming astop cooperating with a pin 35 Fig. Zis asimilar view showingthe jawsclosed; projecting from the arm 89;; Theterminal end Fig. 3 is a part section, part elevation as seen of the arm is upwardly offset, as indicatedat 31, fromthe right of Fig. 1;and and there is thus provided a sort of pocket be- Fig. 4 is an elevation from a similar point of tween the projection 33 and the offset at 31 in view showing the parts assembled in a different whichthe spring 33 may be received so that a 2'5 arrangement. substantially smooth bounding contour is pro- Referring to the drawing, the cutting tool there vided for'the upper portion of the tool in the shown comprises two interpivoted levers which position of Fig; 1 without abrupt projecting parts cooperate in the manner of shears. Onelever I likely to become entangled in the branches of the forming a relatively stationary jaw of the tool tree. i

may have the general form of an inverted J with We provide novel'means for mounting the stathe stem 9 thereof mounted as a substantially tionary lever on the pole H which herein takes axial continuation of the stair or pole H, while the form of a thimble or ferrule 39 divided diathe throat of the J faces downward to form a metrically into two halves. The lower portions hook-like work-engaging portion which. in the of the thimble fit about the end of the pole H and example of the invention shown is provided with may be secured thereto by the bolts 4|, while the a sharp cuttingedge it. On a pivot l5 adjacent upwardly projecting extensions thereof between the upper end of the stem 9 is mounted a coopthe pole are adapted to receive between them the erating lever, one portion of which forms the stem 9 of the J-shaped lever to be secured by 40 blade I! having a sharp cutting edge adapted to bolts 43. i That half of the thimble which in the 40 sweep across the throat of the J and cooperating drawing lies to the left, viewing Figs, 3 and 4, or

in the manner of shears with the sharpened edge at the rearward side of Fig. 1, has its lateral outer l3 and another portion of which forms an operface formed as a seat against which the stem 9,

ating arm l9 extending generally at the opposite maybe applied, as shown in Fig. 4, to be secured 5 side of the pivot. The contour and relative arby means of the bolts 63 substantially in overrangcment of the blades I3 and t"! preferably are hanging relation at one side of the pole. This as more fully described in the patent of Porter alternative arrangement of the parts is of advanand Geddes, No. 2,090,228, dated August 17, 1937., tage under certain conditions when it is desired A detailed description is unnecessary, but it may. to cut off branches close to the part from which 5 be noted that the sharpened edges of the blades they project.

present in all open positions thereof an open Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that in the throat extending without substantial restriction open position of the parts the distal end of the .from their distal ends to the point of intersection blade I! projects to the right beyond the back of the work-engaging edges and that said edges of the stem 9 of the J-shaped stationary lever have inner portions which in the open position of and if that lever is to have such a simple and 55 TENT oFFicc branches or topull sling ropes as used by pruners from among the branches and may also serve as a suspending hook for the tool as a whole. In the tool illustrated the work-engaging edge I3 is sharpened and cannot well'be usedas a manipulating crook, while there would moreover be danger of the blade I! marring branches which it was not desired to out.

We are aware that the invention may be em bodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and we therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not, restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description. to indicate the scope of the invention.

We claim:

LA tool of the class described comprising a lever of general J form mounted on a handle to present the throat of the J as a downwardly 5 opening, work-engaging portion, a cooperating lever pivoted adjacent the upper end of the stem of the J and having an edged portion shaped to effect in cooperation with said work-engaging portion a cut propagated progressively from the throat of the J toward the extremity of the short arm thereof, said edged portion projecting outwardly beyond the back of the J in open position of the parts, the tool embodying a down,- wardly facing grapple at the back of the J positioned to mask the end of said edged portion in said open position.

2. A tool .of the class described comprising a lever of general J form mounted on a handle to present the throat of the J as a downwardly opening, work-engaging portion, a cooperating lever pivoted adjacent the upper end of the stem of the J andhaving an edged portion shaped to effect in cooperation with said work-engaging portion a cut propagated progressively from the throat of the J toward the extremity of the short arm thereof, said edged portion projecting outwardly beyond the back of the J in open position of the parts, the mounting of the lever comprising a thimb-le at the extremity of the handle to which the shank of the J is secured and which has a lateral projection positioned to lie at the back of the J and to mask the end of said edged portion in said open position.

3. A tool of the class described comprising a lever of general J form mounted on a handle to present the throat of the J as a downwardly opening, work-engaging portion, a cooperating lever pivoted adjacent the upper end of the stem of the J and having an edged portion adapted to sweep across the throat of the J to effect a cut in cooperation with said work-engaging portion and an operating portion projecting in a direction extending rearwardly from the back of the J, the cooperating lever having its terminal upwardly offset, and a tension spring interposed between the offset terminal and the back of the J.

4. A tool of the class described comprising a lever of general J form mounted on a handle to present the throat of the J as a downwardly opening, work-engaging portion, a cooperating lever pivoted adjacent the upper end of the stem of the J and having an edged portion adapted to sweep across the throat of the J to effect a cut in cooperation with said work-engaging portion and an operating portion projecting in a direction extending rearwardly from the back of the J, the cooperating lever having its terminal upwardly offset, a stop projection at the back of the J cooperating with the operating portion, and a tension spring substantially received within the space defined by said projection and the offset terminal.

HENRY 'W. PORTER. FRANCIS T, LIND- 

